Romantic comedies have always been a guilty pleasure of mine, where they offer a romance with a dose of humor and the predictable story that love will prevail. However, every so often, a movie comes along that makes me question why I ever liked the genre in the first place. For me, that movie is Something Borrowed, directed by Luke Greenfield and was released in 2011. Despite the amazing star cast and seemingly promising premise, it quickly became my least favorite romance movie. Here is why.
- Problematic characters
At the heart of any romance movie is the audience’s ability to connect with the characters. Unfortunately, something borrowed offers a cast of characters that are just impossible to empathize with. The protagonist, Rachel( played by Ginnifer Goodwin), finds herself in a love triangle with her Best friend Darcy(played by Kate Hudson) and Darcy’s fiance Dex(Colin Egglesfield).
Rachel, in particular, is a frustrating character. She spends much of the movie torn between doing what she knows is morally right and giving in to her feelings for Dex. While the movie tries to present Rachel as a relatable underdog, she often comes off as passive and indecisive, making decisions that feel more selfish than heroic. On the other hand, Darcy is a shallow, self-centered character, and while she may be entertaining in her arrogance, she doesn’t really evolve in a meaningful way throughout the film.
What’s most frustrating about something borrowed is that none of the main characters seem particularly likeable or admirable. It’s hard to root for anyone when they all act in ways that make me cringe or shake my head.
- Lack of morality
One of the key elements of something borrowed is the moral dilemma faced by Rachel. She finds herself in love with dex, her best friend’s fiance and struggles with whether or not to act on those feelings. The movie attempts to explore themes of infidelity, loyalty and love. However, it fails to address the issues in a meaningful or mature way.
One of the key elements of Something Borrowed is the moral dilemma faced by Rachel. She finds herself in love with Dex, her best friend’s fiancé, and struggles with whether or not to act on those feelings. The movie attempts to explore themes of infidelity, loyalty, and love. However, it fails to address these issues in any meaningful or mature way.
Instead of giving a deeper reflection on the consequences of these actions, the movie opts for easy resolutions that don’t deal with the emotional weight of the decisions the characters are making. The ending, in particular, feels like a cop-out, with everything wrapped up neatly without ever truly addressing the complexity of the relationships involved. This leaves a sour taste, as the movie seems more interested in maintaining its rom-com formula than confronting real emotional stakes.
- Predictable and Repetitive Plot
When it comes to romantic comedies, there’s a certain level of predictability that you have to accept. After all, the entire genre is built upon similar tropes: love triangles, the quirky best friend, the grand romantic gesture. However, something borrowed takes predictability to a whole new level which is ultimately really frustrating to see as a viewer. The plot goes by the book, it doesn’t leave any room for surprises or a plot twist. It is almost like driving on a long straight road for a long time.
The love triangle feels forced, with the characters Rachel and dex rehashing the same conversations over and over again. It became clear very early where the movie was heading, there was no real suspense or tension because it was all very obvious. The story could have been more interesting if had taken a risk or introduced a different perspective. Like if Rachel and her Best Friend ( played by john Kransiski) were to get together that would have been a less obvious choice of plot. But instead, it sticks to the same patterns that many other Rom-coms have done.
- Missed Opportunities for Good Humor.
Romantic comedies are often known for their ability to make us laugh, whether through clever dialogue, awkward situations, or funny secondary characters. Something Borrowed, unfortunately, misses the mark in this department as well. While there are a few humorous moments scattered throughout the film, they feel forced and don’t land as well as they should.
The movie’s attempts at humor are often awkward, and the jokes feel stale. The humor is overshadowed by the melodrama, and even the lighthearted moments seem to fall flat. When a rom-com fails to deliver on both the romance and the comedy, it’s hard to justify why you should stick around for the rest of the film.
- My least Favorite Part.
I think the reason this movie is truly considered my least favorite is because they use the plot in order to find happiness. The main character, who is supposed to be considered perfect and the better option, always has to find love by ruining someone else’s relationship or breaking someone else’s heart. Rachel was supposed to have been Darcy’s friend and although Darcy had her flaws she was self centered and then became engaged to someone who Rachel was in love with. It should not have given Rachel the right to steal her best friend’s fiance or for Dex to cheat on Darcy because he found happiness with someone else Darcy did not deserve to be treated the way she was.
Something Borrowed is the movie that leaves you wondering what could have been. With a lack of compelling characters, an overly predictable plot, and a failure to address its moral dilemmas meaningfully, it falls flat in nearly every department. While romantic comedies can be predictable, they should at least offer some fun or depth. Sadly, Something Borrowed does neither. That’s why it remains my least favorite movie. So ultimately, I hate romance movies that follow the trope of basically if I’m not happy no one can be, or that someone else has to suffer so the main character can get their happy ending.